Paper towel protective disk

ABSTRACT

A protective paper towel device includes a disk having a diameter sized to cover at least a portion of a radial end of a roll of paper towel. The disk includes a central slot configured for receiving a paper towel holding rod. The radial end of the upper part of a roll of paper towels is protected from hand contamination.

Applicant claims all the benefits of priority from U.S. provisionalapplication 63/199,098 filed Dec. 7, 2020, the contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a protective device for paper toweland, more particularly, to a protective disk for placement on top of apaper towel roll.

Description of the Related Art

The top of a paper towel roll is generally unprotected. Users with dirtyand/or wet hands often touch the top of the roll while removing sheetsof paper towel, leaving the top of the roll soiled and/or wet, which isunsanitary.

There is currently no commercially available product to keep paper towelrolls clean and to limit the number of towels needed.

As can be seen, there is a need for a device to protect the top of apaper towel roll from contamination from wet and/or dirty hands and, insome cases, enables a user to more easily limit the number of towelsheets removed from the roll.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a disk that coversthe top of a paper towel roll, eliminating the need to touch the top ofthe paper roll directly. The inventive disk may be touched instead ofthe towel roll, preventing paper towel rolls from becoming soiled duringgeneral use e.g., cooking, cleaning, and wiping hands). The inventivedisk may also be referred to as the “Keep Clean” paper towel guard.

In an embodiment, the Keep Clean paper towel guard may be coated with ananti-microbial agent to reduce the spread of germs from repeatedtouching of the surface of the disk. The Keep Clean paper towel guard ismade of a material that may be cleaned and reused.

In an embodiment, a protective paper towel device, includes a diskhaving a diameter sized to cover at least a portion of a radial end of aroll of paper towels. The disk has a central slot configured forreceiving a paper towel holding rod.

In an embodiment, the central slot of the disk is substantially circularor elliptical.

In an embodiment the central slot of the disk is substantiallyrectangular.

In an embodiment, the disk is constructed of an anti-microbial plastic.

In an embodiment, the disk is coated with an anti-microbial material.

In an embodiment, the disk includes a cylindrical extension from a lowersurface configured to fit in a spool of a paper towel roll.

In an embodiment, the disk includes a handle arranged on an uppersurface.

In an embodiment, the disk has a diameter of about 5 inches to 6.5inches.

In an embodiment, the central slot in the disk is substantially circularand has a diameter of about ⅞ inch.

In an embodiment, the central slot in the disk is about 0.5 inches wideand 1^(5/8) inches long.

In an embodiment, s protective paper towel holder includes a base, and apaper towel holding rod extending from the base. A disk has a diametersized to cover at least a portion of a radial end of a roll of papertowel. The disk has a central slot configured for receiving a papertowel holding rod.

In an embodiment, a nub is arranged near an end of the paper towelholding rod that receives the disk. A guide is attached at an edge ofthe base to prevent the roll of paper towels from shifting while beingunrolled.

In an embodiment, the paper towel holding rod received by the disk isconstructed of dual bars that extend from the base.

In an embodiment, the disk is constructed of an anti-microbial polymer.

In an embodiment, the disk includes a cylindrical extension configuredto fit in a spool of a paper towel roll.

These and other features will become apparent from the followingdetailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to beread in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings are of illustrative embodiments. They do not illustrate allembodiments. Other embodiments may be used in addition to or instead.Details that may be apparent or unnecessary may be omitted to save spaceor for more effective illustration. Some embodiments may be practicedwith additional components or steps and/or without all the components oroperations that are illustrated. When the same numeral appears indifferent drawings, it refers to the same or like components oroperations.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an unprotected paper towel roll on aholder;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a protective disk according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a protective disk according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a paper towel roll holder s configuredfor use with the protective disk shown in FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a paper towel roll, paper towel rollholder, and a protective disk according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the protective disk of FIG. 2 , shown ina use position;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a paper towel roll holder s configuredfor use with the protective disk shown in FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a paper towel roll, paper towel rollholder, and a protective disk according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the protective disk and paper towel rollholder of FIG. 9 , shown in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Overview

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present teachingshave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

As used herein, directional terms such as upper, lower, upward,downwardly, top, left, right and the like are used in relation to theillustrative embodiments as they are depicted in the figures, such thatthe upward direction (or upper) being toward the top of thecorresponding figures and the downward direction being toward the bottomof the corresponding figures.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a disk-shapeddevice placed on top of the paper towel roll positioned on a standalonepaper towel holder. The disk generally has a hole in the center. Thehole allows the stem of the paper towel holder to pass through thedevice, causing the device to rest directly on top of the paper towel.

The stem end of a paper towel holder may be passed through a center holeof the device, allowing the device to rest directly on top of the papertowel roll. Once the device is in place, the paper towel is ready to beused while cooking, cleaning, drying hands, etc. While one hand removesthe desired number of paper towel sheets, the user's other hand may beplaced on top of the device. The top of towel roll is generallyprotected from a user's touch and user touch of the body is minimized,increasing sanitation.

The material of manufacture is not particularly limited. The device maybe, for example, a plastic material, such as polyvinyl acetate oranother polyvinyl material. Preferably, the material is flexible. Thematerial is generally non-adhesive.

The inventive device may have a range of sizes. For example, the diskmay have a diameter of about 5 inches to about 6¼ inches and a centralslot having a diameter of about ⅞ inch or having dimensions of about ½inch by about 1⅝ inch. The disk may be soft and flexible, hard andrigid, or a range therebetween.

The method of manufacture is not particularly limited. The device may bemade by cutting or punching a sheet of polymer material or using athree-dimensional (3D) printer.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 12 , FIG. 1 shows an unprotected papertowel roll 10, with a dirty top 12. FIGS. 2-9 show various embodimentsof the inventive disk 20. example, FIG. 2 shows a substantiallyrectangular slot arranged in the disk 20. FIG. 3 shows the disk 20having a hole 23 in the center.

FIG. 4 shows a paper towel holder 30 for use with the inventive device.There are two rods extending from the base that will serve as a papertowel holder. The disk is arranged on the holder via the slot (see FIG.5 disk 20, slot 24).

FIG. 5 shows the paper holder 30, paper towel 10, a disk 20 having theslot 24, and alternatively, the disk 20 have a hole 23 and a cylindricalextension 25 to facilitate placement in the spool of the paper towelroll 10. The radial end 12 of the paper towel roll is exposed. FIG. 6shows an assembled paper towel protective device of FIG. 5 . The leadingsheet 14 of the paper towel 10 is shown. The disk 20 is arranged on theradial end of the paper towel roll 10 via the slot 24.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the present disclosure in which apaper towel holder has a base 32. a holding rod 30, and a guide 35. Theguide serves to keep the paper towel from excessive movement when beingunrolled. A nub 33 is shown at the upper portion of the holding rod. 30The nub can prevent the disk from sliding down the holding rod 30 whenno paper towel is installed.

FIG. 8 shows the paper towel holder of FIG. 7 , m and includes the disk20 with a hole 23, and a roll of paper towel 10. FIG. 9 shows the papertowel 10 arrange on the holder and the disk 20 arranged on a radial endto prevent the paper towels from being contaminated.

In use, one may push down, or simply touch the disk with one hand whilepulling a leading sheet of the paper towel with another hand.

The components, operations, steps, features, objects, benefits, andadvantages that have been discussed herein are merely illustrative. Noneof them, nor the discussions relating to them, are intended to limit thescope of protection. While various advantages have been discussedherein, it will be understood that not all embodiments necessarilyinclude all advantages. Unless otherwise stated, all measurements,values, ratings, positions, magnitudes, sizes, and other specificationsthat are set forth in this specification, including in the claims thatfollow, are approximate, not exact. They are intended to have areasonable range that is consistent with the functions to which theyrelate and with what is customary in the art to which they pertain.

Numerous other embodiments are also contemplated. These includeembodiments that have fewer, additional, and/or different components,steps, features, objects, benefits and advantages. These also includeembodiments in which the components and/or steps are arranged and/orordered differently.

It will be understood that the tennis and expressions used herein havethe ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions withrespect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and studyexcept where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.Relational terms such as first and second and the like may be usedsolely to distinguish one entity or action from another withoutnecessarily requiring or implying any such actual relationship or orderbetween such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,”or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusiveinclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus thatcomprises a list of elements does not include only those elements butmay include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to suchprocess, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “a” or“an” does not, without further constraints, preclude the existence ofadditional identical elements in the process, method, article, orapparatus that comprises the element.

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective paper towel device, comprising: adisk having a diameter sized to cover at least a portion of a radial endof a roll of paper towels; and the disk having a central slot configuredfor receiving a paper towel holding rod.
 2. The protective paper toweldevice according to claim 1, wherein the central slot of the disk issubstantially circular or elliptical.
 3. The protective paper toweldevice according to claim 1, wherein the central slot of the disk issubstantially rectangular.
 4. The protective paper towel deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the disk is coated with an anti-microbialmaterial.
 5. The protective paper towel device according to claim 1,wherein the disk is constructed of an anti-microbial plastic.
 6. Theprotective paper towel device according to claim 1, wherein the disk iscoated with an anti-microbial material.
 7. The protective paper toweldevice according to claim 1, wherein the disk includes a cylindricalextension from a lower surface configured to fit in a spool of a papertowel roll.
 8. The protective paper owe device according to claim 1,wherein the disk includes a handle arranged on an upper surface.
 9. Theprotective paper towel device according to claim 1, wherein the disk hasa diameter of about 5 inches to 6.5 inches.
 10. The protective papertowel device according to claim 1, wherein the central slot in the diskis substantially circular and has a diameter of about ⅞ inch.
 11. Theprotective paper towel device according to claim 1, wherein the centralslot in disk is about 0.5 inches wide and 1^(5/8) inches long.
 12. Aprotective paper towel holder, comprising: a base; a holding rodextending from the base; and a disk having a diameter sized to cover atleast a portion of a radial end of a roll of paper towels; and the diskhaving a central slot configured for receiving a paper towel holdingrod.
 13. The protective paper towel holder of claim 12, furthercomprising a nub arranged near an end of the paper towel holding rodthat receives the disk, and a guide attached at an edge of the base toprevent the roll of paper towels from shifting while being unrolled 14.The protective paper towel holder of claim 12, wherein the paper towelholding rod received by the disk comprises dual bars that extend fromthe base.
 15. The protective paper towel holder of claim 12, wherein thedisk is constructed of an anti-microbial polymer.
 16. The protectivepaper towel holder of claim 12, wherein the disk includes a cylindricalextension configured to fit in a spool of a paper towel roll.
 17. Theprotective paper towel holder of claim 16, wherein the cylindricalextension is tapered for arrangement in the spool of a paper towel roll.18. The protective paper towel holder of claim 12, wherein the centralslot in the disk is substantially circular and has a diameter of about ⅞inch.
 19. The protective paper towel holder of claim 12, wherein thedisk has a diameter of about 5 inches to 6.5 inches.
 20. The protectivepaper towel holder of claim 12, wherein the central slot in the disk isabout 0.5 inches wide and 1^(5/8) inches long.